Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Is mian liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire, roimh an Taoiseach, a bhí anseo cheana féin, agus go mórmhór roimh an ráiteas a chuir sé os ár gcomhair anseo anocht. It is part of the human condition that when one meets a challenge, overcomes it and ultimately comes out the other side with good news, it is expected that in some way a negative must be provided to balance the weighing scales. That was part of what we have heard in recent weeks. While I do not agree with it, in itself it is not necessarily a bad thing because it creates debate. In this case, it gives us an opportunity of analysing in depth exactly what is involved in social partnership. It is interesting that we are talking about a programme entitled Towards 2016, which will be a significant date in Irish history marking the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. We are all quite good at quoting sections from the 1916 Proclamation, including the one about cherishing all the children of the nation equally. While it might be a tenuous link, there is no doubt that it is inherent in social partnership. That is precisely what it is about.

I will deal first of all with the issue of the negative side of the balance sheet and the democratic deficit which has been mentioned. That is only being advanced in order to have a debate but on examination I do not think one could genuinely say that position is correct. In recent times, I have been watching a television series called "Reeling in the Years".